Jozef De Kesel

His Excellency Jozef De Kesel
Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels Primate of Belgium
De Kesel in 2007
Church	Roman Catholic Church
Archdiocese	Mechelen-Brussels
Appointed	6 November 2015
Installed	12 December 2015
Predecessor	André-Joseph Léonard
Other posts	Bishop of Bruges (2010-2015)
Orders
Ordination	26 August 1972 by Leo-Karel Jozef De Kesel
Consecration	26 May 2002 by Godfried Danneels
Personal details
Born	17 June 1947 Ghent, Belgium
Alma mater	Catholic University of Leuven Pontifical Gregorian University
Coat of arms

Jozef De Kesel (born 17 June 1947) is a Belgian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been appointed Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels. He served previously as Bishop of Bruges since his installation on 10 July 2010^[1] On 6 November 2015 Pope Francis named him to succeed André-Joseph Léonard as Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and Primate of Belgium.^[2] He was consecrated at a Mass attended by the Belgian monarch on 12 December 2015. ^[3]

Early Life

De Kesel was born in 1947 in Ghent. He entered the seminary in 1965, studied philosophy and theology at the seminary of Saint-Paul in Ghent and received his degree in Philosophy and Letters at the Catholic University of Leuven. From 1968 until 1972 he studied theology in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, he gained first his license and then in 1977 his doctorate.

He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Ghent on 26 August 1972. While in Ghent he held the following positions: Professor of Religion at the College of Bishops Eeklo (1974–1980), Professor of Religion, Philosophical Anthropology and Contemporary Thought at the School of Social Gent (1977–1980), professor of fundamental theology and of dogmatic theology at the seminary of Ghent (1980–1996) and at the same time, Professor of Theology Higher Institute of Religious Sciences in Ghent, where he was also Dean, professor of Christology at the Catholic University of Louvain (1989–1992), responsible for the formation of pastoral workers in Ghent (1983–2002), episcopal vicar for theological training and pastoral in the diocese of Ghent (1992–2002).

Episcopate

Pope John Paul II appointed him Titular Bishop of Bulna and Auxiliary of Malines-Brussels on 20 March 2002. He was consecrated on 26 May and has been appointed as Vicar General for the Vicariate of Brussels. In the bishops' conference he has been responsible for the inter-diocesan Commission for Pastoral Liturgy (Flemish and French) and a delegate to the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community ( COMECE ).

He was appointed as bishop of Bruges after the early resignation of the previous bishop, Roger Vangheluwe^[1] and installed on 10 July 2010. I

On September 2010 De Kesel said: "I think the Church must ask itself the question of whether it is appropriate to keep the mandatory character of celibacy. We could say that there are celibate priests, but that people for whom celibacy is humanly impossible should also have the chance of becoming priests."

On 6 November 2015 Pope Francis named De Kesel to succeed André-Joseph Léonard as Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and Primate of Belgium.^[4] Unlike his predecessor, he is seen as a theological liberal, being a supporter of Cardinal Walter Kasper proposal of communion to the divorced and remarried Catholic couples.^[5]

References

1. "RINUNCE E NOMINE". press.catholica.va. 25 June 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
2. Jozef De Kesel: 'Kerk moet een open gemeenschap worden'
3. "Belgian Monarchs Attend Mass in Mechelen". Royal Hats.
4. Jozef De Kesel: 'Kerk moet een open gemeenschap worden'
5. New Belgium Archbishop: "Mercy" is "somewhat condescending... I like words like 'respect' and 'esteem'", Catholic World Report, 9 November 2015, Article by Carl E. Olson